SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE SHAFT ARRANGEMENTS
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a surgical end effector; and
an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis and being operably coupled to the surgical end effector, the elongated shaft assembly including a flexible segment comprising;
a longitudinally extending, elongated articulation spine including two lateral sides, the spine including a length and a width that tapers along said length; and
a plurality of ribs extending laterally from each lateral side of said articulation spine along a length thereof such that a distal portion of the flexible segment articulates at an articulation rate that is fastener than another articulation rate of another portion of the flexible segment that is proximal to the distal portion upon application of articulation motions to the surgical end effector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument that can comprise a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least one surgical procedure upon application of at least one control motion thereto. The surgical instrument may further include an elongated shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal tool axis and is operably coupled to the surgical end effector. The elongated shaft assembly may operably support at least one control component and include a flexible articulation portion for facilitating articulation of the surgical end effector relative to the longitudinal tool axis. The flexible articulation portion may comprise a longitudinally-extending, elongated articulation spine that includes a plurality of ribs that extend from each lateral side of the articulation spine. Each rib may include at least one anti-twist feature for preventing the flexible articulation portion from twisting about the longitudinal tool axis during articulation of the surgical end effector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a surgical end effector; and an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis and being operably coupled to the surgical end effector, the elongated shaft assembly including a flexible segment comprising; a longitudinally extending, elongated articulation spine including two lateral sides, the spine including a length and a width that tapers along said length; and a plurality of ribs extending laterally from each lateral side of said articulation spine along a length thereof such that a distal portion of the flexible segment articulates at an articulation rate that is fastener than another articulation rate of another portion of the flexible segment that is proximal to the distal portion upon application of articulation motions to the surgical end effector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a surgical end effector; and an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis and being operably coupled to said surgical end effector, said elongated shaft assembly including a flexible articulation portion for facilitating articulation of said surgical end effector relative to said longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector, said flexible articulation portion comprising; a longitudinally-extending, elongated articulation spine including two lateral sides; and a plurality of ribs extending laterally from each lateral side of said articulation spine along a length thereof and wherein at least one said rib on each lateral side of said articulation spine includes an anti-twist protrusion that protrudes outward from the rib towards an adjacent said rib and wherein said adjacent said rib includes an anti-twist detent that corresponds to said anti-twist protrusion such that upon application of a twisting motion to said flexible articulation portion, said anti-twist protrusion engages said corresponding anti-twist detent. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector comprising; an elongated channel configured to support a surgical fastener cartridge therein that includes a plurality of surgical fasteners and a tissue cutting member; and an anvil supported relative to said elongated channel and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a housing; a firing drive system configured to selectively generate firing motions wherein at least a portion of said firing drive system is operably supported by said housing; a closure system for generating closing and opening motions and wherein at least a portion said closure system is operably supported by said housing; an articulation system configured to generate articulation motions wherein at least a portion of said articulation system is operably supported by said housing; an elongated shaft assembly operably coupled to said housing and said surgical end effector and defining a longitudinal tool axis, said elongated shaft assembly operably interfacing with said closure system to selectively apply said opening and closing motions to said end effector, said elongated shaft assembly further comprising; a flexible articulation portion including a longitudinally-extending, elongated articulation spine including a length and a width that that tapers along said length, said elongated articulation spine include a component passage therethrough; a plurality of ribs extending laterally from each lateral side of said articulation spine along a length thereof and wherein at least one said rib on each lateral side of said articulation spine includes an anti-twist protrusion that protrudes outward from the rib towards an adjacent said rib and wherein said adjacent said rib includes an anti-twist detent that corresponds to said anti-twist protrusion such that upon application of a twisting motion to said flexible articulation portion, said anti-twist protrusion engages said corresponding anti-twist detent; a flexible firing beam movably supported within said component passage and operably interfacing with said firing control system and said tissue cutting member; a right articulation beam operably supported by said right ribs and operably interfacing with said articulation system and said elongated channel; and a left articulation beam operably supported by said left rib and interfacing with said articulation system and said elongated channel. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification